Columns and news covering Minnesota Duluth Bulldog Hockey, and the NCHC;
occasionally the WCHA, college hockey in Minnesota, and MTU.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Motzko Under Pressure?

Bob Motzko says he hadn’t heard questions about the SCSU 0-8 NCAA record, but he obviously has been thinking about it. Of course he won’t admit that, but his quote provided by Kevin Allenspach of the St. Cloud Times:

Huskies coach Bob Motzko on the inevitable 0-8 in the NCAAs question: "I’ll be honest – we didn’t make the NCAA Tournament last year, so it was never asked then. And I’ve only heard it twice this week. Once was when the boys were in here (the media room) and the second time was from you (a reporter, and not me). So I’m not sick of it at all. It’s one of those things that we don’t talk about, ever. Some of our guys were 2 years old when it started, and a couple weren’t even born yet. So it’s ridiculous. I know, as the coach of the program, and I know the frustration of our fans. But all you can do in the short-term 20-plus years St. Cloud State’s been at the Division I level, we’ve been in the tournament a lot – and a lot in the last decade. In the old days, you used to play on your home campus. So a lot of teams that have these records, they were getting wins on campus.

"If we were 1-7 because a team would’ve won 12 years ago, would it make a difference? It has no bearing on this team. We have to live with it, and I have to live with it. I feel for our fans, though, because they want it so bad. Fans are passionate. They want to see good things happen. Our hockey team wants to advance. The only way we can get to that round of eight is to win a hockey game. I was involved in a couple of (NCAA losses), but if you want to beat me up on 0-for-8, I can’t answer it. I’ve got so many things to think about. I’ve got three little kids and these guys and I’m trying to figure out where we’re going to have dinner. Worrying about some losses from I don’t know how many years ago, I don’t."

Yikes, it seems he is on the edge and ready to explode. Hopefully, his energy will be channeled to his players as they take the ice today against Northern Michigan in the NCAA Tournament.